Round Rock Express Game

June 2025 Monthly Adventure

In this Monthly Adventure, I went to a Round Rock Express game! I'm a sports fan and have no problem watching pretty much anything that can be called a sport. If there's a great atmosphere and some good food at the venue, I'm willing to soak in the experience and either crash course how the sport works before I go or learn in the moment while I attend the game.

Background

I first learned about the Round Rock Express because they were the Houston Astros triple-A affiliate when I first arrived in Central Texas a decade ago. However, they are now the triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Minor league games also have so many fun and unique ways to keep the crowd entertained! If you're looking for cheap sports tickets with fun themes for game days and great deals on junk food, going to a minor league baseball game could be just right for you. It's family-friendly and you can go with friends or solo!

For this game, I went with friends for a special alumni night packaged ticket. A few years ago, I graduated with my master's degree from Sam Houston State University and one of the annual alumni events in the Austin area is a night at the ballpark. I had such a great time a couple of years ago that I knew I had to return for this event!

Round Rock Express vs. El Paso Chihuahuas

The Ballpark - Dell Diamond

Getting to the Dell Diamond has always been a unique experience for me. I have taken a different route each time I've driven there which is an indicator that it's situated in a great location. Parking does have a separate charge of around $15, but there appears to be plenty of parking around the ballpark.

One of the things I love most about ballparks is how they each have the familiarity of the concessions, the field, and the stands. Then, there's just a few things that help set each ballpark apart from the rest. For example, Dell Diamond has lawn seating which is super cheap and perfect for anyone looking to bring a blanket and stretch out while waiting for home run balls to come their way. They also have "the porch" which has some patio-style seating alongside the lawn. There's even a pool at the ballpark because a pool company is the foul pole sponsor! The Dell Diamond is a beautiful ballpark and well designed for a fun fan experience for a night of baseball.

Dell Diamond at night

Food and Drinks

The alumni group had a party room, so we had a buffet with chips, burgers, hot dogs, and cookies. We also had sodas, water, and drink tickets for beer. Since I was at a ballpark, I decided to go with hot dogs because that's the classic food. However, one of my friends mentioned that the concession stand directly behind the section we were sitting in to watch the game had soft pretzels for only $6. I love a hot, buttery, salty soft pretzel and immediately hopped out of my seat and hastened up the stairs to buy one. As expected, it was delicious and the perfect item to wrap up my ballpark snacking.

The Game

The game was going at a nice, steady pace. There were a couple of home runs by the Express and some good defense throughout the game by both teams. I was surprised to see Jason Heyward with the Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres affiliate) on a rehab assignment! Since he was with the away team, it wasn't advertised that he would be playing in the game that day. My friends and I found ourselves constantly on the lookout for baseballs flying our way because there were so many high-soaring foul balls by all the batters.

Friday Fireworks at Dell Diamond

At one point, there was lightning in the distance which was followed by some strong winds and fine mist that eventually turned into a downpour. My friends and I quickly made our way back into the party room and waited out the rain as the game officially entered a game delay. Once the rain passed and the game could continue, we went back to our section to watch the last few outs that were left to conclude the game so we would have good seats for Friday Fireworks.

Friday Fireworks

Honestly, the fireworks that happen after Friday baseball games is what we were most excited about because my friends and I were not emotionally invested in the game. We were very worried about the fireworks show actually going according to plan because of the rain delay. In the end, we remained patient and waiting out the rain delay paid off. We got to a see a spectacular fireworks show set to the tune of songs with a magic theme!

Wrap-Up

If it weren't for the fact that it's so hot in Central Texas in the summer, I would probably be at Round Rock Express games more frequently. The reason I go when the SHSU alumni night is happening is because they have a party room with air conditioning and a separate restroom. Given the rain delay, it proved to be an extremely nice perk! That being said, I really do enjoy the experience of being at a baseball game and actually like the sport itself. Minor league games are all about fan engagement which makes an otherwise slow sporting event much more interesting. You can always count on tasty food and snacks and fun themes or giveaways. If you're ever in the Austin area and looking for a chill event to take in for an evening, I recommend checking out the Round Rock Express schedule to see if a game is happening and purchasing a ticket!

On to the next adventure!

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